"Most contemporary literary theory is atheistic. This book, by contrast, states the case for a literary theory which derives from Christian theology. It argues that it remains rationally and ethically legitimate to use theological language in literary theory and criticism after the critique of such language posed by contemporary literary theory. It makes this claim in particular with respect to the objections to Christian theology raised by deconstruction, Marxism and psychoanalysis.

Having argued that Christian theology can in principle be used in literary theory and criticism, the book goes on to suggest how this might be done in practice. It examines contemporary hermeneutics, and recent work in the study of literature and theology, in order to formulate the principles of a contemporary Christian literary theory.

This derives from Christian theology on the one hand, and takes account of the critique of such theology posed by contemporary literary theory on the other."--BOOK JACKET.